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University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA OPENS SEASON WITH A 33-7 VICTORY OVER OHIO
9/4/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Golden Gophers scored 33 unanswered points behind three touchdowns by senior quarterback Billy Cockerham. Cockerham completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 212 yards and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 14 times for a total of 59 yards and two touchdown runs.
Cockerham scored Minnesota's first points on a 35-yard touchdown run toward the end of the first half. He also threw a career-long 89-yard pass to junior Antoine Henderson in the third quarter to increase the score to 26-7.
Senior running back Thomas Hamner also ran in a four-yard touchodwn run in the first quarter. Hamner finished the day as the leading rusher for the Golden Gophers with 17 carries for 74 yards.
Freshman kicker Dan Nystrom set the school freshman record by splitting the uprights from 49 yards out toward the end of the second quarter.
Sophomore Ron Johnson led all receivers with five catches for 51 yards. Senior Luke Leverson was just behind Johnson with four catches for 38 yards.
On the other side of the ball, sophomore freesafety Delvin Jones led the team with nine tackles. Senior strong safety Tyrone Carter collected eight tackles with junior Justin Hall credited with seven. Junior Karon Riley collected six tackles including three for a loss of 17 yards and one sack.
The Golden Gophers (1-0) will face the University of Louisiana at Monroe next Saturday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Metrodome.
